How To Pronounce Common Arizona Words

How to Say Common Words You May Hear in Phoenix

There are many words that have either Mexican or Indian influence here. Learning how to pronounce them will allow you to speak like a native Arizonan.

Eight Commonly Mispronounced Words in Arizona

Phoenician - I am one, and you're trying to speak like one. Pronounced: fun-ee-shun. Common error: pronouncing the first syllable like it is a phone.

Saguaro - large cactus, often with arms, found only in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico. The saguaro flower is Arizona's state flower. Pronounced: suh-wah-roe. Common error: Pronouncing the word with a hard G.

Cholla - a cactus. There are many different varieties. Don't get too close. Ouch! Pronounced: choy-ah. Common error: pronouncing the double L like the word ball.

Ocotillo - a tall spiny cactus that gets red tips in the spring. Pronounced: oh-cat-tee-yo. Common error: pronouncing the double L like the word ball.

Gila monster - a lizard, about two feet long when fully grown. Pronounced: hee-lah. Common error: pronouncing the first word with a hard G.

Javelina - often mistaken for a wild pig, it is found in desert areas. It's a collared peccary (Pecari tajac). Don't try to make friends. Pronounced: have-a-leen-a. Common error: pronoucing the first letter J like the name Judy.

Mesquite - Various shrubs or small trees. Popular wood for fireplaces, since it burns slowly and doesn't smoke. Pronounced: mess-keet. Common error: pronouncing the last syllable like it rhymes with the word white.

Yucca - various types of desert plants, mostly with long pointy leaves. Pronounced: yuk-uh. Common error: pronouncing the first syllable to rhyme with the name Sue.

Tips:

Sometimes 'saguaro' is spelled 'sahuaro'. It's pronounced the same.

Generally speaking, if you come across two 'L's in a row, they'll be pronounced like a 'Y' sound. In the case of 'saguaro' and 'Juan', the 'gu' and 'ju' are pronounced like a 'W'.

Sometimes, when you come across a 'G' or 'J' it will be pronounced like an 'H'.